Since the GPWA primarily deals with affiliates, the initial thrust of the questioning was on the Grand Prive affair. Grand Prive had assigned eCOGRA to evaluate its liability to the affiliates who claimed that they had not been paid when Grand Prive closed. They had even accepted eCOGRA’s recommendations. But when affiliates claimed that Grand Prive had not furnished complete information to eCOGRA, Grand Prive stalled any further investigation. Microgaming was the software provider to Grand Prive and had received its share of flak in the murky affair for not taking Grand Prive to task. Microgaming is one of the founders of eCOGRA. Therefore GPWA put the question whether eCOGRA took up this assignment free of cost at the instance of Microgaming. Beveridge put it clearly, “At no time did Microgaming ask us to be involved, although they were pleased when we accepted the assignment.”

The more important question was why eCOGRA refused to involve the affiliates in its inspection of Grand Prive. Beveridge explained that the ultimate responsibility was that of eCOGRA as an organization. eCOGRA was responsible for the investigations carried out and the conclusions reached by its auditors. These auditors are highly qualified and widely experienced. If eCOGRA involved representatives of the affiliates then it would be depending on persons whose credentials were unknown to it and it could not confidently take the responsibility for the actions of such persons. However, eCOGRA had informally taken advice from a prominent affiliate revealed Beveridge. Equally awaited was eCOGRA’s response to the allegations that the complete database was not provided by Grand Prive. Beveridge said that he was assured that eCOGRA was given the complete database and that no other database existed and accepted that assurance in good faith.

The second part of the interview dealt with the issue of the independence of eCOGRA. It is common knowledge that eCOGRA was not only founded by Microgaming but also funded by Microgaming. The insinuation was that how could then eCOGRA evaluate Microgaming software and Microgaming online casinos in an independent manner. Beveridge spelled out in detail the organizational structure and functionality of eCOGRA, explaining how that led to independence in operations. He also pointed out the Microgaming was not the sole founder and sole initial funds provider to eCOGRA. 888.com, Bwin and OnGame too were involved. In any event eCOGRA no longer needs funds from its founders. Finally eCOGRA provides services to dozens of other competing software suppliers.

Beveridge hoped that these clarifications would end the unfounded allegations. He said, “In particular the repeated and totally false allegations that we were mere puppets of Microgaming rankled, simply because Microgaming has no more influence on how we carry out our professional duties than the other two Founding – and competing –- Members. This sort of allegation is also deeply insulting to the Independent Directors who exercise operational control at eCOGRA.”

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Michael Moldenhauer is a real estate developer from Toronto, who formed the Baltimore City Entertainment group to bid for the city’s casino location. He’s hoping to build ‘The Celebration Casino’ – which would hold 3750 slot machines. Outside the building there would be a shopping promenade and a new parking garage.

‘It’s truly going to be an opportunity as a south entrance feature if you will into the city, and benefit from all the traffic that’s coming off of 95 and 295,’ Moldenhauer told ABC-2 News.

The state has set up a ‘Video Lottery Facility Location Commission’ to determine which development groups will get licenses, and whether any will not. The chairman of that commission, Donald Fry, said even though Moldenhauer’s bid is the only one for the Baltimore location: ‘Just because there’s one proposal that does not mean that it’s definitely going to be approved.’

The commission plans to award slots licenses this fall; if they’re application is approved the developers of the Baltimore casino could begin construction next year, and open early in 2011.

So far, the developers have only applied for a license to operate 500 slot machines. But the Russell Street site is much larger and more visible; they must submit a revised bid and an additional $19.5 million to continue the process.

Of the $500 million developers believe the facility will clear in its first year, $330 million would go to the state in gaming taxes, and $15 million would go to the city, where Mayor Sheila Dixon hopes to lower property taxes. ‘We think it will be a very highly profitable venture for all of the stakeholders,’ Moldenhauer said.

“The policy on off-reservation gaming will be reviewed by the new administration,” said Larry Echo Hawk, assistant secretary of the Interior, during a news conference in Monticello.

“That process is under way,” Echo Hawk said. “Eventually, the office of the assistant secretary of Indian Affairs will present options and recommendations to the secretary of the Interior, but that process has some way to go.

“I am not going to guess about how soon we are going to make that decision … . We will be taking a look, in a very broad way, at gaming policy across the board. Off-reservation gaming policy will be included in that review.”

Echo Hawk, in a much touted visit to Sullivan, met behind closed doors in separate meetings at the Government Center with gaming supporters and opponents, and then took a bus tour of the Concord and Monticello Casino & Raceway, where tribes have expressed interest in opening Las Vegas-style casinos.

While Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has the ultimate authority to take land into trust for a casino, Echo Hawk’s office does most of the reviews.

Although Echo Hawk emphasized that he is not a “casino czar” and came to listen and learn, supporters and opponents say he is the most important federal official to have toured potential casino sites.

Former Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne imposed a distance test that prevented tribes from siting a casino outside a commutable distance to the reservation. Echo Hawk said that policy will be reviewed, giving supporters hope.

“This gathering provided us with an opportunity to raise our issues,” said James Ransom, a chief with the St. Regis Mohawk tribe, which is considering rebooting efforts to build a casino at Monticello Casino & Raceway.

“Hopefully, it will influence the Obama administration to correct a huge injustice that was done, not only to us, but to Sullivan County,” he said.

Echo Hawk was invited by Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-Hurley. Hinchey and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., touted the economic benefits of casinos.

“I am glad this is the first step in the process,” Schumer said. “We obviously have to take into account environmental concerns. I, as Maurice is, are both pro-environment, but we have to take into account the need for jobs, the need for economic development and what would be good for the tribes and the vast majority of people in Sullivan County.”

Echo Hawk also heard from 14 opponents from environmental and anti-gambling groups, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who spoke via conference call, expressing concerns about sprawl and the reservoirs that supply millions of people in New York City with drinking water.

“The primary message is that there are two competing economic visions for Sullivan County,” said Mark Izeman, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

“One is the old giant casino model that will bring traffic spikes, degrade air quality and unplanned sprawl. The other vision is a sustainable economic development that will bring green jobs, clean tech, new universities and allow the Catskills to preserve its unique character.”

Speaking live on WWJ Thursday morning, Governor Granholm says talks are underway to allow racetracks to add a pull tabs lottery system, slot machines or other gambling to their offerings.

The idea is being discussed as a way to raise revenue and offset a projected 1.8 billion dollar budget deficit.

“It’s not on paper yet, it’s a concept and it’s being floated, I support it, but there’s alot of work that has to be done,” Granholm said Thursday.

Listen to the interview.

Wednesday Governor Granholm told WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick it would be a “wise move” if it allowed for revenue to keeping college affordable, No Worker Left Behind and scholarships

The racing industry has been looking to expand gambling at tracks as a way to stay in business.

The governor says any plan to increase gambling would have to be approved by Michigan voters.

But casino supporters say the opponents are out to confuse voters with unsubstantiated attacks and half-truths.

If approved this November, the proposed constitutional amendment would allow construction of casinos in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo.

Backers promise the creation of 34,000 new jobs in Ohio’s struggling cities and $651 million in casino tax revenue.

The most recent disagreement between the two sides on Issue 3 centers on how much tax money the casinos will generate for counties, schools and cities.

Under the proposal, the state would take a 33 percent off the top of the revenues and redistribute the money to Ohio’s 88 counties.

Opponents, though, point out that the 33 percent tax on gross casino revenue is defined as the amount of money “exchanged for the purchase of chips, tokens, tickets, electronic cards or similar objects” minus total winnings.

They say that leaves a hole by not including cash or coins that are simply fed into slot machines and video poker machines.

Rep. Lou Blessing, R-Cincinnati, an opponent of the casino plan, said at a Tuesday news conference that casino supporters have made it allowable to gamble with cash but do not stipulate that cash revenue be taxed.

“These casinos could run total cash games and the state of Ohio would receive no tax benefit. Period,” he said.

Issue 3 spokesman Bob Tenenbaum said the proposed casinos would not use cash except to exchange for vouchers, and would be subject to taxes.

“Cash wagering is an anachronism,” Tenenbaum said.

“Nobody uses it.”

But Trosky didn’t park himself at a blackjack table, or bend the arm of a slot machine. On the advice of stunt coordinator Douglas Crosby, Trosky spent $2,500 to join the Screen Actors Guild. ”I used every last cent I made on ‘The Wrestler’ and kicked in about $200 of my own money,” says Trosky, who wrestles as the Supreme Lee Great.

That gamble paid off. In the months since ”The Wrestler” wrapped, Trosky has re-invented himself as a stunt double. He’s done stunt work on two New York-shot productions starring Nicole Kidman (”The Rabbit Hole”) and Jennifer Aniston (”The Baster”). He was a Fire Nation warrior in M. Night Shyamalan’s ”The Last Airbender” and survived a run-in with a road-raging driver in ”Remember Me.” All the films are scheduled for 2010 release.

In ”Remember Me,” Trosky has a scene with ‘ ‘Twilight” sensation Robert Pattinson, whom he describes as ”a gentleman, and very British. Rob was really nice to me but I don’t understand why all the girls go crazy about him.” Kidman, on the other hand, impressed Trosky. ”She really jaw-dropped me,” he says. ”Perfect skin, perfect hair, perfect body.”

At the moment, Trosky’s talent for taking a punch is on view in ”Big Fan,” a dark comedy written and directed by ”Wrestler” director Robert D. Siegel. In the film, opening Friday in Philadelphia, Patton Oswalt stars as an obsessed New York Giants fan. One night, Oswalt follows his favorite player from a Staten Island gas station to a Manhattan strip club. When the player realizes he’s being stalked, he serves Oswalt a knuckle sandwich.

”Then, I step in and take the beating,” says Trosky, 28, who also teaches computer science at Lehigh Carbon Community College. ”I get thrown to the ground from an elevated platform and then the player’s friends join in and they all give me a beat down.”

Trosky’s career as a stunt double is going so well that a few weeks ago he decided to retire from wrestling after whooping the Dynamic Sensation. Says the actor, ”Every time I step into the ring, I’m reminded of just how real ‘fake’ wrestling can be.”

TRICK OR TREAT

Keep your eyes peeled for Bethlehen native Daniel Roebuck in Rob Zombie’s ” Halloween II,” opening Friday. Best known for his turns in ”River’s Edge,” ”The Fugitive” and ”Lost,” Roebuck reprises his role as Lou Martini, the owner of the Rabbit in Red Lounge, in this continuation of 2007’s Michael Myers reboot.

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